CSM Trustees Select Slater as Chair, Middleton as Vice Chair

Austin Joseph Slater Jr. begins his first term as chair for the College of Southern Maryland Board of Trustees.

The College of Southern Maryland Board of Trustees selected Austin Joseph Slater Jr. representing St. Marys County to a first term as the boards chair and Michael L. Middleton of Charles County to a first term as vice-chair at its June 21 meeting.

CSMs Board of Trustees is the governing body providing leadership and oversight of the colleges mission and policies. Members are appointed by the governor for five-year terms. The board consists of nine members, with Calvert, Charles and St. Marys counties equally represented. The chair and vice-chair are selected by the trustees among themselves annually.

“Almost 40 years ago I began my college education attending Charles County Community College at night after work, so I know very personally the vital role CSM serves in our community. I cannot think of any honor more meaningful than to repay some of what this fine institution has provided me,” Slater said.

Appointed to the board of trustees in 2008, Slater is president and CEO of Southern Maryland Electric Co-op, one of the largest co-ops in the nation. He holds a master of business administration degree in finance from George Washington University, a bachelors degree in accounting from Shepherd University and an associate degree from CSM.

He recently served as chairs of the Board of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce and of the Southern Maryland Workforce Investment Board, as well as currently serving as a member of the boards of Community Bank of Tri-County, and Friends of the Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum.

Appointed in 2007, Middleton is the chairman and CEO of Tri-County Financial Corporation and its banking subsidiary, Community Bank of Tri-County, Waldorf. Middleton serves as the chair of the Maryland Bankers Association and is the former chair of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta.

Middleton graduated from Bellarmine University, Louisville, Ky. with a bachelors degree in accounting and was awarded a masters of business administration with a concentration in finance from the Robert H. Smith School of the University of Maryland. His professional accreditation includes a certificate of public accounting and the program for negotiation for senior executives at Harvard University. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors.

In addition to Slater and Middleton, CSMs trustees are MacArthur Jones, Mary Krug and Julie Sickle of Calvert County; Lois DiNatale and Dorothea Holt Smith of Charles County; and Theodore Harwood and Dr. Janice T. Walthour of St. Marys County. Serving as secretary/treasurer to the board is CSM President Dr. Brad Gottfried.

Appointed in 2003, Jones retired from the position of vice president and chief operating officer of the National Institute of Security Education Corporation. Prior to this, he had a 31-year career as an educator in the Calvert County Public Schools system where he served as a teacher for eight years, an elementary level vice principal for 11 years, a middle school level vice principal for two years and an elementary level principal for eight years.

Krug, who has been on CSMs board since 2007, previously served two terms as a Calvert County Commissioner, from 1990-1998, and has worked as chief of the news bureau for the Smithsonian Institution, press spokesperson for the National Park Services National Capital Region, and a local government affairs representative for Constellation Energy. She received both her bachelors degree in journalism and a juris doctorate (with honors) from George Washington University.

Appointed in 2010, Sickle is the fleet training manager for Constellation Energy Nuclear Group (CENG), one of the largest electricity suppliers in Maryland. She has worked with CENG for 25 years including roles in engineering, maintenance, work management and training. She has extensive leadership experience in the electric industry with many years leading adult education programs for workers at CENGs Nuclear Power Plant facilities. Sickle holds a bachelor of science in nuclear engineering from the University of Maryland and a master of arts in education and administration from the College of Notre Dame.

Appointed in 2009, DiNatale is employed by the Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity as a senior Navy ordnance environmental expert. A life-long resident of Charles County, she holds a master of science in environmental management from the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing a doctorate in human and organizational learning at George Washington University. She has extensive leadership experience in the Department of Defense's environmental and testing and training communities.

Appointed in 2007, Smith is a retired educator, beginning her 30-year teaching career in 1965 in the Charles County Public Schools system. She is a past recipient of the Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award presented by The Washington Post, and of the Charles County Teacher of the Year Award. A language arts-reading instructor of middle school students, she also held various positions on the executive board of the Educational Association of Charles County and was the faculty representative to the teachers association for John Hanson Middle School.

Appointed in 2010, Harwood received his bachelors degree in Naval Science from the United States Naval Academy in 1974 and continued his career for 28 years as a member of the active duty and reserve contingents of the Naval Aviation community. Harwood is vice president of SENTELs Spectrum Engineering Group. He has more than 36 years of engineering experience and is a retired captain in the Naval Reserves.

Appointed in 2007, Walthour is a life-long resident of St. Marys County, and graduated from George Washington High School in 1968 when it was one of two public high schools for black students in the county. She received a bachelors degree in elementary education from Morgan State University, a masters degree from George Washington University, and a doctorate in administration and supervision from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

A regionally accredited community college that provides programs and services with a special focus on local workforce development to maintain and grow a healthy economy and community, CSM is a two-time silver level recipient of the Maryland Performance Excellence Award and is consistently recognized by the Alliance of Workplace Excellence for its commitment to its employees and the community. The fifth largest community college in Maryland, CSM has campuses in Calvert, Charles and St. Marys counties. For information about CSM, call 301-934-7765 or 301-870-2309, 240-725-5499 or 443-550-6199, Ext. 7765 or visit www.csmd.edu.